Since the COVID-19 update, it’s been encouraged that we stay home and practice “self-distancing,” which means adjusting to daily life inside at home. Let’s avoid getting stir crazy, stuck on the couch in pajamas, and eating junk food. You can still manifest a healthy and active lifestyle in the comfort of your own home. Not only is it good for our physical health, but also for our mental health. This is a stressful time for a lot of people and it can easily get to us, so here are 6 scientifically proven tips to stay healthy and active at home.
Create a Plan to Start Your Day
While we’re indoors, “normal” life like school drop-offs, grocery shopping, going to gymnastics & dance classes are not an option. However, you can create a plan for you and your family to stick to during the week! Set a bedtime, wake up and get ready, and even create a family workout schedule! There are loads of studies backing up the benefits of routines for positive mental health. In the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, they found that family routines help to moderate impulsiveness and oppositional symptoms and traits in children, meaning routines protect and help children feel safer.
Stretch in Your Living Space
Avoid stiff joints and get your blood circulation moving! Whether it’s in the living room, back porch, or bedroom floor. Encourage your family to stretch before breakfast or before lunch. We’re even providing Virtual Gymnastics & Dance Classes that the whole family can do together! According to the American Osteopathic Association, moderate stretching and yoga style movements have physical benefits such as soothing lower back pain and improves energy, and mental benefits by managing stress.
Ditch the Chips
Make healthy snacks for the whole family to enjoy! Choosing a healthy snack over junk food fuels your body and mind. It also fills in the nutrition gaps, like calcium and fiber. Avoid snacks that are loaded with sugar and have no nutritional value. They cause fatigue, tooth decay, and are unfulfilling.
Back in December, Nutritionist Kristin Gustashaw visited Viking to share nutrition tips which are good to know when deciding what you’re snacking on. Swap out ice cream for a yogurt parfait with fruit and granola toppings, chips for veggies and hummus, and cookies for no-bake chocolate chip energy balls (we love this recipe!).
Keep Your Mind Active
Being stuck inside can be mentally strenuous, especially when we’re constantly following the news. Change the channel to a quiz based program like Jeopardy and challenge your family members to see if they can answer the questions, or play an educational app. If you need a break from screen time, a recent Harvard study on cognitive fitness found that solving problems like sudoku, math equations and word puzzles all helped to maintain mental positivity and sharpness.
Try a Home Workout
You can find a home workout almost anywhere in this day and age! It’s a great way for your kids to stay active when they’re not at gymnastics or dance, plus the whole family can be a part of it! Try our “What’s Your Name” Work Out! Spell out your full name and complete the activity listed for each letter. For a greater challenge, include your middle name or try favorite characters’ names!
Find an Active Hobby
Try and maintain a hobby that keeps you moving, like crocheting, making music, painting, baking, and writing. There are so many activities you can explore, and not only does it keep you busy, but it can lift up your spirits as well. A study conducted by several psychologists of about 1,400 people found that those who said they engaged in enjoyable leisure activities positively impacted their mental and physical health.
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